Combination power-heat system created

Monsters and Critics.com & UPI ^ | 8-12-05

[HangnJudge]

OAK RIDGE, TN, United States (UPI) -- U.S. grocery stores, schools, hotels and hospitals are likely candidates for a high-efficiency system that provides heating, cooling and electric power.

The PureComfort system -- developed through a partnership between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and United Technologies Research Center -- features a combination of 60-kilowatt microturbines and a new direct exhaust-fired double-effect absorption chiller-heater that recycles exhaust streams.

The system provides simultaneous electric power and cooling. Bob DeVault of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory`s Engineering Science and Technology Division said the system could be configured to provide emergency backup power to the customer in case of an electric outage.

Optionally, PureComfort could provide heating, regenerate a desiccant -- for humidity control -- and provide coolant to a supermarket refrigeration system. The combination of multiple simultaneous electric and thermal outputs enables the system to achieve an overall fuel efficiency of more than 80 percent -- compared to the 33 percent typical of a central power plant.

[HangnJudge]

Good to see ongoing work on increasing efficiency of energy use. My hometown - Oak Ridge

[syriacus]

Nice article! Thanks for posting it.

[q_an_a]

good to see things like this at work. Maybe it will be like micro chips with the power doubling and the price dropping.

[HangnJudge]

Often in the press, what is reported is the "Evil" nuclear weapons work done here. Most of Oak Ridge's efforts go into other uses for energy and allied research

[syriacus]

PureComfort Powers A&P with a Fresh Result

MOUNT KISCO, NY-An environmentally and economically conscious Mount Kisco Mayor J. Michael Cindrich welcomed A&P and UTC Power executives to his town on May 17th to help cut the ribbon at an A&P Fresh store, featuring the first supermarket installation of a UTC Power PureComfort 240M CHP unit.

UTC Power President Jan von Dokkum said, “The store is brightly lit, shelves are stocked with quality products, an overabundance of fresh produce, a clean and well organized meat and fish counter and a beautiful deli. That's what a customer sees. Behind the scenes it is equally impressive. This is without a doubt a very technically advanced store and energy efficiency is a big part of it.”

In remarks before a gathering of about 100 people, van Dokkum talked about the environmental benefits of the project. Afterwards, van Dokkum talked extensively of PureComfort's potential for reducing or eliminating spoilage, especially in the aftermath of power outages. He and other UTC Power personnel noted that outages caused by hurricanes in Florida last year had caused tremendous losses in food and grocery stores. Chuck McCutchan, senior vice president of A&P Retail Operations also suggested that A&P Fresh customers expected the company to be consistent in its approach to the environment and that using the PureComfort system improved the store's overall efficiency even compared to stores built as recently as two years ago and reduced power-related emissions. Mayor Cindrich was pleased that A&P would not be drawing great amounts of power from an already stressed grid, noting a movement to close a nearby nuclear plant.

The system, which was commissioned in December, comprises four microturbines with a Carrier double-effect absorption chiller. The system is sized to meet approximately 50% of the store's load, providing 150 RT cooling, 950 MBH thermal, and 230 kW at 59°F.

[HangnJudge]

Nice pics

[syriacus]

UTC Power improves energy efficiency technology

08/09/2004 - UTC Power has released an improved version of its flagship PureComfort cooling, heating and power system that allows manufacturers to achieve greater energy efficiency along the production line.

The two new models, the PureComfort 300M and PureComfort 360M, have been added to the range to offer higher power, cooling and heating capacity and to provide manufacturers with greater flexibility and choice in meeting their energy reduction needs. Each PureComfort solution is a turnkey solution that UTC Power claims can lead to energy efficiency savings of over 90 per cent in some applications.

"Each year, the US wastes more energy than it productively uses,” said Jan van Dokkum, president of UTC Power. “PureComfort solutions are a very environmentally friendly approach to achieving energy savings and power security by recycling waste heat.

“In relation to the emissions from fossil fuelled grid power, each installed PureComfort system eliminates more than 10,000 pounds of nitrogen oxide emissions per year, the equivalent of removing about 250 passenger cars from the nation's roadways." [excerpt]

[Tennessee_Bob]

Hmmm - now if I could find somebody to recharge my old AC unit without costing me an arm and a leg. Or maybe a small business loan to buy one of these things - that way, I could cool my house, and run my own power grid in the neighborhood. Of course, COOR Power might get a little upset...

[HangnJudge]

Hmmm - now if I could find somebody to recharge my old AC unit without costing me an arm and a leg. Or maybe a small business loan to buy one of these things - that way, I could cool my house, and run my own power grid in the neighborhood. Of course, COOR Power might get a little upset...

Nahh
You need to buy one of those windmills up in the Windrocks, where the ATV's play

[dljordan]

"overall fuel efficiency of more than 80 percent -- compared to the 33 percent typical of a central power plant."

Whoa! I wonder what corporation they'll give the manufacturing rights too. I mean, someone has to make a killing off of taxpayerfunded research.

[HangnJudge]

Whoa! I wonder what corporation they'll give the manufacturing rights too. I mean, someone has to make a killing off of taxpayerfunded research.

Reminder to self, check parent company for stock exchange symbol

[Tennessee_Bob]

You need to buy one of those windmills up in the Windrocks, where the ATV's play

I was thinking about scrounging the parts for one of those - the blade they damaged when they were unloading them was laying on the backside of Warehouse Road for quite awhile. But then, after seeing the size of it, I figured the neighbors might notice and complain.

[HangnJudge]

I was thinking about scrounging the parts for one of those - the blade they damaged when they were unloading them was laying on the backside of Warehouse Road for quite awhile. But then, after seeing the size of it, I figured the neighbors might notice and complain.

Darned those trucks were big going through town
I still can't imagine how they got them up there

[Drammach]

Here's a link describing "absorbtion chillers" and how they work...

http://www.cogeneration.net/AbsorptionChillers.htm

[HangnJudge]

Here's a link describing "absorbtion chillers" and how they work...

Bookmarked to self tor further review

[Balding_Eagle]

Thanks, this thread was a little short on those kinds of facts.

[Fog Nozzle]

Where does the "waste" heat input come from?

[HangnJudge]

Where does the "waste" heat input come from?

Can come from internal industrial processes in plant on which installed
which might otherwise be discharged

[Fog Nozzle]

What is the source in a supermarket?

[Nuc1]

Folks from Oak Ridge administered my reactor operator exam. They were knowledgeable and fair. Really fine people.


But...Don't they get it??? It' PEAK OIL time. It's the end of the world. Don't they know they are supposed to roll over and give up?;)